Courts / Dublin / Report
Three soldiers get suspended sentences over 'brutal' attack
Summary
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced three former soldiers to fully suspended terms for a violent attack outside The Living Room bar in February 2024. Jordan Kavanagh (24), Jerome Kavanagh (23), and Jason Keating (24) each pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and one count of violent disorder. All three resigned from the army prior to entering their pleas. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin imposed a four-year sentence, suspended for five years, on Jordan Kavanagh and Jason Keating. Jerome Kavanagh received a two-year, eight-month sentence, suspended for three years. The court ordered the men to pay €6,666 each to the victim as an expression of remorse. The judge noted the defendants were suitable candidates for restorative justice and described the sentences as a "Sword of Damocles." The victim, who suffered a concussion, broken teeth, and scarring, stated the attack changed his life. The judge emphasized that while the men showed real remorse and had no previous convictions, their actions were "completely appalling" and they had thrown away their potential.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Three soldiers get suspended sentences over 'brutal' attack. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 25, 2024 Incident
- 2025-11-12 Publication
Why: " He resigned from the army ahead of his court appearance because he was mindful of the fact that the case could draw negative media attention to the army, "an organisation he loved". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Outcome: Defence counsel urged the judge to consider all sentencing options available to her, including a non-custodial sentence and community service. Judge Ní Chúlacháin previously asked prosecution counsel to look into whether restorative justice would be suitable as part of the sentence being imposed. "This is one of the most profoundly depressing lunch times I've ever had in this building," she said, referring to the material she had reviewed during the break. "For these young men to overcome such barriers and throw it all away in a moment of madness…What they did is just completely appalling.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Ballymun
- Poppintree
- Poppintree Crescent
- Whiteacre Place
- Cathal Brugha Street
Topics
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